Recycled car to help rebuild life of wounded veteran

“I thought it was a prank,” said Robert Iaulualo of Chula Vista. “I was in shock. I even teared up a bit.”

The Marine Corps Recruit Depot communications administrator had received an unexpected call announcing that a free car was headed his way. The timing was great — Iaulualo had planned to shop for a car that weekend.

His own 11-year-old auto had logged more than 200,000 miles and was barely drivable, able to go a maximum of only 35 mph. That means Iaulualo could only use it for local errands and grocery shopping — no freeway driving.

For longer trips, the disabled military vet uses buses and trolleys or borrows a friend’s car.

“It’s been really tough,” said the dedicated dad, who commutes to Los Angeles on weekends to visit his 2-year-old daughter.

On Wednesday, Iaulualo hadn’t yet seen his new car — a refurbished 2016 Nissan Sentra — and didn’t know its make or model.

“I don’t care if it’s a bucket, if it will get me from point A to point B,” he said. “I’m just ecstatic I’m getting a car and don’t have to make payments.”

The Nissan is a thank you for his two Afghanistan combat tours from the collision repair industry — part of a Recycled Rides program begun in 2007 by the National Auto Body Council. He was nominated by San Diego-based Support The Enlisted Project and is one of about 300 people to be awarded refurbished autos this year.

Iaulualo’s Nissan — donated by Allstate — was refurbished by Caliber Collision technicians in La Mesa who volunteered their time and used parts donated by suppliers to Recycled Rides.

On Thursday evening, he was handed the car keys here at the annual convention of the Automotive Body Parts Association. “The timing is perfect after all that I’ve been through,” said Iaulualo. “I feel so blessed.”

Alfredo Estrella / AFP / Getty Image

Earlier this month former Mexican President Vicente Fox spoke out at a press conference in Mexico City about the cannabis industry's upcoming Canna Mexico World Summit.

Earlier this month former Mexican President Vicente Fox spoke out at a press conference in Mexico City about the cannabis industry's upcoming Canna Mexico World Summit. (Alfredo Estrella / AFP / Getty Image)

Fox news: “We should legalize marijuana,” said Vicente Fox, who served as Mexico’s president from 2000 to 2006. He noted that a global cannabis industry convention will take place in late May at the Fox presidential library, formally known as the Fox Center of Studies, Library and Museum in San Cristóbal near his ranch in Guanajuato State, Mexico.

Fox’s rationale is that legalization of pot would create agricultural jobs in Mexico and boost the economy. He says higher incomes are one way to respond to the undocumented immigration issue, long an open sore between the United States and Mexico.

He also appealed to the United States to keep NAFTA strong, arguing that the U.S., Canada and Mexico together create a powerful trade block. “We need to stay together,” Fox urged.

He reiterated his position that Mexico will never pay for the Trump administration’s proposed border wall. “Get off that wall. It’s been a mistake,” Fox exhorted, recalling that the Great Wall of China was unsuccessful in keeping out invaders.

Fox spoke to business and community leaders in the San Diego Rotary Club last Thursday via Skype after he was forced to cut short his San Diego visit to return home to help with Mexico’s elections. He has long been openly derisive of Trump and, while he refrained from his often colorful language, he didn’t pull his punches, assailing Trump’s leadership ability.

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Former Mexican president, Vicente Fox, long an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump, has started a clothing line that bears a caricature of Trump to raise money for leadership training of youth.

Former Mexican president, Vicente Fox, long an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump, has started a clothing line that bears a caricature of Trump to raise money for leadership training of youth. (Courtesy photo)

Fox recently launched a clothing line — Vicente Fox “Can’t Build A Wall” Apparel — with the proceeds directed to the Centro Fox Foundation to train future leaders dedicated to serving their communities.

The T-shirts ($25), sweatshirts and hoodies bear a cartoonish toddler with Trumpian hair trying to assemble a plastic brick wall. The caption reads: “Can’t build a wall if your hands are too small.” On April 20, Fox touted the clothing on Facebook: “By getting this apparel, you're helping one more child to unleash his or her leadership.”

He was in town as a board member of San Diego Reality Changers, a non-profit education effort aimed at turning disadvantaged youth into first generation college students through financial aid and other assistance. Several Mexican students have attended its college experience summer camp at UC San Diego, and Fox is hosting American students at the Fox Center.

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Encinitas 13-year-old Merrick Hanna, of "America's Got Talent" fame, is this year's special guest performer at the April 28 Heart of a Child benefit concert at Qualcomm's Irwin M. Jacobs Hall. General admission for the 7 p.m. concert (doors open at 5:30 p.m.) is $25.

Encinitas 13-year-old Merrick Hanna, of "America's Got Talent" fame, is this year's special guest performer at the April 28 Heart of a Child benefit concert at Qualcomm's Irwin M. Jacobs Hall. General admission for the 7 p.m. concert (doors open at 5:30 p.m.) is $25. (Courtesy photo)

From the heart: Merrick Hanna, the talented local 13-year-old who got to the semifinals of CBS’ “America's Got Talent” last season, is the headliner at Saturday’s Heart of a Child benefit concert at Qualcomm’s Irwin M. Jacobs Hall. While the Encinitas freestyle hip-hop dancer didn't win the TV competition, he won accolades from hard-to-please judge, Simon Cowell.

The 7 p.m. concert also includes classical pianist Anne Liu, 16, a 2018 National YoungArts finalist; singer Savannah Philyaw, who wrote a collection of songs for Warner Bros. and actress Nikki Castillo, 18, who appeared in CBS’ "Scorpion" and Disney’s "K.C. Undercover." American Harp Society champion Isabella McCormick, 12, and Carnegie Hall performing pianists Jason and Andrew Zhang, ages 10 and 12, also are among those donating their talents to fund a music therapy program for cardiac and oncology patients at Rady's Children's Hospital.

The program is named for young Ariana Miller. Music therapy was the bright spot of her days spent waiting for a heart transplant. “Minutes into a session, the sparkle returned to her eyes,” recalls her father, Dr. Jeffrey Miller of Encinitas. Ariana died at age 13 before getting a new heart. But her parents have ensured that the music therapy she so loved will live on for other patients by creating the Music with Heart program at Rady’s in 2010. Since then, it has expanded from a half day every other week to full-time daily therapy.